Connector for pressure lines



Aug. 2, 1949.v l E. H. scovELl. v 'y 2,477,834

I CONNECTOR FOR PRESSURE LINES 1 Filed Aug. 14, 1945 fiel.'

/Rrenzor Patented Aug. 2, 1,949

2,477,834 CONNECTOR FOR PRESSURE LINES Eric Herbert Scovell,V Glandore,South Australia, Australia ApplicationAugust 14, 1946, Serial No.690,478 InAustrala September 8, 1945 This invention relates to animproved connector for pressure lines `and in particular it relates to aconnector for lubricating apparatus coupling a grease gun to a nipplehaving a bulbous end such as that commonly used on automobiles.

In connecting la grease gun it is customary to use a socket which isadapted 'to engage and lock to a nipple in such a manner that when thepressure is being applied the joint will be rmly held together but whenit is desired to remove the connector from ,theJ nipple it shouldV onlybe necessary to displace the connector from substantial axial alignmentwith the nipple whereupon release would automatically be effected.

With apparatus of the type constructed heretofore certain difcultieshave been experienced which it is the object of this invention toovercome, one of such diiiicultiesl being the arrangement of grippingmembers which, while effecting a rigid hold, may not allow the socket tobe readily vwithdrawn from the associated nipple when this is required.

' According to this invention the gripping members are in the form ofballs or similar members which can be rolled which are projectedforwardly -rby suitable means to eiect a lock on a nipple, the

gripping members being however disengageable from `the nipple by movingthe gripping members rearwardly, the use of balls or rollable memberspreventing sticking after the pressure is removed as they can be rolledout of the locking position.

In order however that the invention may be more clearly understood itwill now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings inwhich- Fig. 1 is an elevation of the connector showing the nipplepositioned therein,

Fig. 2 is an end View of Fig. 1,

Fig. 3 is a central sectional elevation of the connector showing thenipple sectioned and lin position,

Fig. 4 is a section on line 4-4 of Fig. 3,

Fig. 5 is a central sectional view of a modification of the connectorshowinng the nipple positioned therein, the outer elevation of said viewcorresponding -with the elevation shown in Fig. 1, and

Fig. 6 is a section on line 6-6 of Fig. 5.

Referring to Figs. 1, 2, 3 and 4, .a body member I is adapted to haveits one end secured to a grease gun or connection whereby the pressuregrease is being supplied thereto, the other end of this body member Ibeing in the form of a 3 Claims. (Cl. 285-168) hollow socket member 2having within it a cage 55 I the front part of which forms a socket 3adapted to slip over the bulbous end of the nipple 4 in a withdrawablemanner, the nipple 4 engaging members consisting of .a series of balls 5which are so positioned that when the balls 5 have been y engaged behindthe line of maximum diameterVH of the bulbous end of the nipple 4,theyvwill-co-v f operate with a reduced portion -8 within the hollowsocket member 2 in such a manner that the socket 3 cannot be withdrawnfrom the nipple 4 while the socket 3 andthe nipple 4.arein axial'alignment'or approximately axial alignment' The nipple 4 has a ball IIspring loaded by a spring I2 so that the pressure of the lubricant inthenipple will close a channel I3-in the nipple nel I8 in a sealingpiston I4 which has a concave -v end to engage the bulbous end vof thesocket to allow angular movement of the connector on the I nipple, theVsaid channel I8 having access to the lubricant supplied through the endof the body member I. C

The cage 'I which carries the 'balls 8 is freely slidable in the hollow9 in the socket member 2 and ts around the front part of a sealingpiston I4, the cage being normally projected forwardly by a spring I3which is lconined between the cage 1 and the body member I.

The sealing piston I4 has at its rear an annular resilient washer I5which is in turn backed by a washer I6 and a spring I'I, the spring I 'Inormally projecting the sealing piston I4 but a1- lowing same to bepushed back when the device is engaged on a nipple 4. The purpose of theresilient washer I5 is to form a seal to prevent leakage of lubricantpast the piston I4. The socket member 2 is` joined to the body member Iby a screw thread 20 to allow assembly of the unit.

The operation of the device is as follows:

When the socket portion 3 of the cage 1 is engaged over a nipple 4, theballs 5 are pushed rearwardly out of the reduced portion `Il of thehollow a sufllcient distance to `allow them to move outwardly to passover the highest point of the nipple. During the rearward deection ofthe balls 5 the cage 'I is of course moved rearwardly against theIpressure of the spring I9 and also the spring I'I as the piston I4 isnormally urged forwardly by the springs I1 :and a shoulder on thispiston then bears against the rear of the cage 1.

As soon as the balls drop into the reduced portion behind the bulbousend of the nipple 4 the socket member 2 and body member I move back tosecurely engage the -balls in the reduced portion 8 of the hollow andtherefore preventing the device from being pulled oi the nipple Whilethe balls are in this locked position.

Holding of tlre balls inA the locked position is in this case`independent of pressure appliedby the sealing piston I4.

To disconnect the device from the socket 4 the body member I isdisplaced from axial alignment with the nipple that is the connector istwisted sideways, this action causing the cage to/be moved rearwardlyagainst the action of the springs I9 until the balls move out of the re,duced portion 8 of the hollow a sli-Ecient` distance to allow same topass over the highest point on the bulbous end of the nipple'd.

In the embodiment shown in Figs. 5 and 6 a similar arrangement exists.as that just described but. in this lease ibo cage llA. is. not held :bya serine corresponding to the spring I9 'but is. pmushco forwardly bythe spring- H., the shoulder on the piston I4 being so positioned thatit normolly-engages. the back of the cage TA. to hold the cageforwardly'.

embodiment. the balls are directly held mincir locked. position duringlubrication by pressurev applied to the piston I4 by the lubrifcant.'lwisting -or the body member I lout .of alignment. with the nipple willagainmove the balls ont ofthe reduced portion -8 of the hollow soolieiiZ `to, allow theba-lls to move over the highest. point. of the b ulb ousend y.of lthenlonle.

in both or the embodiments shown the locking members are capable ofbeing rolled, this rolling action .being `of particular importance inpref. venting locking of the connector to. .the nipple, previousembodiments utilising jaws being not so. readily reloasablc the frictionof jaws is CQISidQliblY higher than `the rollable members of rthisinvention, `these members allowing ready twisting- Iof the. connectorron the Vnipple and :thus

allowing the connector to be rolled off the nipple.

llolaimisr 1. For connecting a grease gun to nipples having a bulbousend, an improved connector comprising; a body, a hollow socket memberengaged thereon, a cage axially movable in said socket member, rollablelocking mem-bers in said cage, a reduced portion in said hollow socketmember to force said rollable locking members inwards when the, cage ismoved forward, means engaging said cage to urge saidl cagel forward toIposition said rollable locking members in the reduced Iportion of saidhollow, a sealing piston `rocio/'able axially within the said body andcage,

a concave end yon s aid sealing piston to engage Athe bulbous` end ofthe nipple, and spring means to urge said piston forward, said cageprojecting from the end ot the socket member to lbe engaged en a nippleto move the socket member forward over the cage to position the rollablemembers in the larger portion of the hollow and roll the rollablemembers off the nipple over the larger diameter:` ofthe bulbous end ofsame when the said socket. member is forced out of axial alignment with.the said nipple.

2. Florconnecting a grease gun to nipples .Y having .a bulbous end, animproved connector according to claim 1 characterised by spring meansengaging said cage to urge said cage forwardly.

:3. :For connecting a grease gun to nipples having a 'bulbous end, animproved connector according to. claim 1 characterised by a shoulder onthe said sealing piston to urge said. cage forwardly.

ERIC HERBERT SCOVELL.

REFERENCES, CITED The following. references, are of record in the fileof this ,patent UNTED STATES PATENTS

